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Marko wandered along the forest paths, whistling to himself
as he gathered wild fruits and berries for their supper. Neopets don't need
to eat as often as humans, and they were all quite satisfied with one main meal
a day, complemented with snacks in between.
Aragon and Jitterbug, who had become
fast friends over the few days following the young Lupe's arrival, had approached
Aihami with a request to practice their breakfalls, and so Marko had been left
with the task of getting the food. Not that he minded very much; it was quite
a peaceful job and there were so many more varieties now that Gadgadsbogen had
ended a week or so before.
He had left the other students to
their own devices. He wasn't really afraid of anything happening, as among the
remaining white-belts there was Raz, the eldest, who was a sensible young Kacheek
and could be trusted to watch for and prevent any accidents.
He hadn't gone far before he heard
someone talking. It sounded like a young Neopet, one that was probably about
three weeks old. The Kougra's ears pricked curiously and setting down the basket
and making sure it was well camouflaged with leaves and branches he followed
the sound.
Peering behind a tangle of leaves
and foliage, he saw a little pale green Jubjub sitting on an old stump, apparently
talking to himself.
"Hey… you wanna come down here?"
A pause.
"Didicus, he's coming!"
There was a yap, a flash of gold
and indigo and Marko caught sight of an Anubis in the bushes by the stump.
"Did, look. There he is! I knew
it!"
To Marko's amazement a large, dark
green Carma came crawling along a low branch quite near. The JubJub's large,
dark eyes were wide with delight.
"So…your name's Leafcrawl? I'm pleased
to meet you…"
The Carma flicked its sticky tongue
out lazily.
"So tell me about what it is to
be a Carma. I've always wondered..."
Marko watched incredulously as the
Jubjub continued chatting companionably with the Petpet.
"You have to go? Oh, I'm sorry...
when can I see you again?"
The Carma's tongue flickered again
and it croaked softly.
"Really? Okay! I'll see you then,
Leafcrawl!"
Marko waited until the lizard-like
Petpet had vanished into the leaves before stepping out of his cover.
The Anubis in the shrubs let out
a warning growl as the Jubjub started and looked up.
"Quiet, Did, I think he means us
no harm."
The Anubis looked reproachfully up
at the Jubjub.
"Trust me, Didicus. Now please."
Grumble-growling to himself, the
Anubis settled back down in the leaves. The JubJub turned to Marko.
"Who are you?"
"I am Marko. I'm a Kougra."
The Jubjub nodded sagely. "I know.
I saw lots of them on our travels, though none of them were wild…"
"Travels?"
"Yes. See, I've been all over Neopia
with my owner. He took us to all sorts of places, Terror Mountain, Sakhmet City-
that's where I got Didicus here, he's my Anubis-, Tyrannia... I'd been everywhere
but here. Mystery Island. Only my owner... he said we were going on our last
trip, here. I don't know where he is right now. I think he's gone home without
me. But I don't mind that much. It's wonderful being here by myself. And he
didn't really talk to me or spend time with me or anything, just brought me
around here and there."
Another abandonment case. Marko shook
his head angrily. The nerve of that owner, leaving his pet in the wilds... The
JubJub's tone was considerably matter-of-fact, and he didn't seem to have harboured
any particular affection for his owner, but it was the thought of it that made
Marko bristle.
"What's your name?" Marko asked
the Jubjub curiously, feeling more and more mystified.
"Oh, it's Mandrake. My owner thought
it was a good name for a Jubjub, seeing as we defend ourselves with a screech."
"Ah... yes. So what are you planning
on doing, Mandrake?"
"Call me Manny. That's what Didicus
calls me."
"Didicus calls you Manny?"
"That's right. My owner never really
called me anything."
"Manny... um... I'm not sure how
to ask you this... but... how do you understand what Didicus is saying?"
The Jubjub stared at him in surprise.
"Can't you?"
"No... in fact, most Neopets can't."
The Jubjub, a surprised expression
on his face, sat back on the stump and thought for a while. The astonishment
slowly cleared.
"Right... now I remember... It was
when I first got Didicus, a few days after I hatched… I just wanted so bad to
understand him, I guess it was 'cuz no one else would talk to me. When my owner
traveled, even though he took me along with him, he was always busy, he kept
writing some funny numbers on paper and talking on his tiny machine. And when
I asked him what he was doing he just told me to run along and play. I got lonely
for someone I could talk to.
So I kept watching Didicus, watching
how he talked to other Petpets... and it just sorta came naturally. And I found
Did could understand me too. I guess it's been such a part of my life now I've
forgotten other pets can't understand Petpets… and vice versa."
"Would you like a place to live?
You and Didicus?"
"Well... I guess it would be nice
to have a roof over our heads instead of sleeping in that cave all the time.
What do ya say to a new home, Did?"
The Anubis yapped.
"He says it sounds fine to him,"
Mandrake grinned. "Where is this place? What's it like?"
Marko smiled gently. "Oh, not far.
There are other pets there your age. I'm sure you'd fit in great."
"Let's get going then."
"Right after I go collect some food
for all of us. There isn't nearly enough and I've gone and left our basket back
a little way... why don't you join me?"
"Now you stay out here, Manny,"
Marko told him firmly, "while I go and tell Aihami-Master you are here."
The other white-belts circled round
Mandrake curiously as Marko ran inside.
Stop being so nervous, snapped
Didicus. The striped-one, you said he told you this was a good place. Just socialize.
Make friends. If anyone attacks you or puts you down, they'll have me to contend
with.
Mandrake smiled at his pet. "Thanks,
Did."
"You can really understand that
Petpet?" Keota lowered her blue head skeptically to the Anubis.
"I can understand all Petpets, I
think. It just takes practice, is all."
Jitterbug stared at him in awe. "That's
so cool."
"You'll have to show us how you
do it," Aragon said, equally impressed.
"Yeah!" agreed Keiko the Gelert,
his green tail waving happily at the prospect.
Mandrake smiled at them. "Marko told
me you practice some martial art called Neo-Kido round here. What is that exactly?"
"Oh, it's the coolest," Emlyn burst
out excitedly, fluttering her sunny reptilian wings as she warmed to her favourite
topic. "It's about using the other opponent's force against him, so if he tries
to attack you, you take his force and redirect it so it hits him instead of
you."
"Only," Raz added seriously, "we
are a peaceful bunch and we try to avoid resorting to violence whenever possible.
For example, if someone tried to pick a fight with us, we could try to defuse
their anger instead of taking them down with our moves. That, too, is Neo-Kido
in a way."
Mandrake's eyes grew thoughtful.
"That sounds very interesting. An art worth learning."
"Aihami-Master and Marko-Senior
will teach you," Koura grinned. "They're the bestest teachers ever. You'll soon
have it down pat. Just ask Aragon here. He only joined a few days ago, and he
can breakfall and do the first paw-lock just as good as the rest of us."
"But Jubjubs don't have front paws,"
Keota burst out impatiently. "How can he learn it? You can't do paw-locks or
throws without front paws or arms."
All the white-belts hesitated as
they looked at Mandrake's shape, a ball of fluff with large feet. He certainly
couldn't perform the techniques that they had been learning.
"Aihami-Master will find a way for
him to learn," Emlyn declared loyally. "Besides, it's not just about moves."
"Anyway," Jitterbug began, but at
that moment Marko called Mandrake's name. The little Jubjub smiled at his new
acquaintances. "I'll see you later, guys." He padded away, Didicus behind him.
"That's a very interesting talent,"
Aihami murmured to Marko. The Kougra had told her of the JubJub's extraordinary
ability. "Could you bring him in please? I'd like to meet him."
The Kougra disappeared out the screen
door for a moment, and returned with the JubJub and the Anubis by his side.
Aihami greeted them with a benevolent smile.
"Welcome, friends," she said.
Mandrake lowered his eyes, his own
way of bowing.
"Greetings, Aihami-Master. The other
white-belts told me of Neo-Kido, that you teach. It sounds very exciting, and
I should like to learn it. But... problem is, I... don't have the right …er,
equipment, do I?" He wiggled the toes of one foot in the air.
"Well, Neo-Kido isn't just about
techniques, you know," Aihami said.
"Yeah… that Kacheek, Raz, he said
something about defusing anger also demonstrating Neo-Kido..."
"Raz is right," Aihami nodded approvingly.
"Avoiding conflict is what we are about, and we do not wish to use our techniques
to hurt and injure creatures. My old Master always said that we defeat our enemies
not by being harder and tougher than them but by being softer and gentler than
them.
"You may not be able to learn the
techniques," Aihami continued, "but there is another aspect of Neo-Kido that
I think you will be able to excel in: the training and strength of spirit. I
want to develop strong willpower and determination in all my students without
also developing the ruthlessness and selfishness that makes pets and people
willing to step on others in order to reach their goals."
"Marko explained to me about lifeforce-strength,"
Mandrake said excitedly. "He said that the reason why you shout when you attack
is to throw the energy out so you can have power behind your attack without
actually using much strength... he also told me that if it's strong enough you
can do some really wonderful things... is that true?"
"Well, as I started training my
life-force regularly on top of the training I received," Aihami said with a
chuckle, "I have experienced things I never knew. I have been able to see energy;
calm living things with my life-force; sharpen each of my senses. And I'm suspecting
that you have been using your life-force energy to communicate with Petpets."
Mandrake looked up at her, wide-eyed. Aihami continued.
"I think it was your willpower to
have a companion whom you could talk to and love that overcame the language
barrier. Most Neopets don't have this desire to talk with and understand their
Petpets because their owners fill that need for companionship that most of us
Neopets have, especially those created by humans. They have no especial wish
to communicate with their Petpets. But it was your necessity and determination
to have a friend that made you do it. I believe everyone has some ability of
their life-force energy that they perform best, and I think this is yours."
Aihami turned and let out a clear
whistle. In a flurry of pale peach fur, Nage appeared from the adjoining room
and leaped onto his customary place on her shoulder. Mandrake's eyes lit up.
"A Meekins! I've never had a chance to talk to one of those before, even though
I've seen them often enough when my owner was in Faerieland..."
Nage, sensing his excitement, gave
an amused but flattered purr. Aihami smiled, and lifted him off her shoulder
to set him on the floor. "I can sense how Nage is feeling, but I can't communicate
directly with him or know exactly what he says. Well, I'd like you to talk to
Nage for me, so that I can see whether I'm right about you using life-force
energy to do this."
"It'd be a pleasure, Aihami-Master!
Can I start now?"
"Just go ahead. I'll pick it up."
Mandrake turned to the Meekins. "So...
Nage... that's your name, right? How do you find life here?"
Pretty well, Nage replied.
The four-ears, Aihami, I hear her called, gave me a safe place to live and
the pleasure of companionship. The striped-one called Marko and the young ones
are very good to me. I especially like the long-ears, Keiko, and the one-horn
they call Emlyn; they always have a treat or a kind word for me.
"How did you come to be here? I
thought Meekins are native to Faerieland…"
I was from the Faerieland Petpet
Shop, and my owner, after moving here, thought it'd be a good idea to let me
run into the wilds since she had just gotten another Petpet, an Ona. Of course
an ordinary little Meekins couldn't compare. So I was let loose in the jungle.
I had no idea how to find food, there were many things trying to eat me, I had
no knowledge of jungle ways and there were no others of my kind, of course.
So basically I was lucky to run into Aihami. She is a good creature. And she
is better at choosing names than my previous owner. Nage is an improvement from
Fluffy Cuddle-bun, I must say.
Mandrake suppressed a giggle.
"How did you meet her? Tell me about it."
It was a day or so after my abandonment.
I was looking for food when I heard a tremendous roaring echoing around the
jungle…
As Mandrake started talking
excitedly to the little creature, Aihami began her breathing exercises again.
Soon she felt her senses sharpening
as she slipped once more into another world. She felt the steady pulse of Marko's
lungs and turning to him, saw the indigo pool of his energy. Some of it was
trickling through his body, keeping him focused. Someday she'd teach him to
pour it out through every corner and cranny of his being, some time when he
was strong enough to afford the effort; not yet. Instead she turned her head
to the Jubjub and her Petpet.
She saw his life-force, the
colour of a new leaf. Chartreuse energy was traveling to his vocal cords and
ears hidden deep in the fur, she could see them burning bright yellow-green.
She could see two other blobs of brightness, one pale blue and the other a rich
brown-gold that were the Meekins and the Anubis, neither of which, of course,
were using their life-force energy to speak. She could clearly hear Nage's squeaks
and the occasional yap from Didicus, and though she could understand neither
of the two Petpets, she could hear the general tone of their speeches. Nage
was thrilled to be telling someone about himself, and both Mandrake and Didicus
were interested in hearing it.
Satisfied that her theory
was proven, Aihami straightened and got up. "Someone's got a nice, strong life-force
there," she said warmly.
The sudden words made Mandrake
look up. "You mean you were right? I was really using my life-force energy to
talk to Nage?"
"I'll say," Aihami replied
with a smile. "You definitely proved that right. I'd say that if you concentrate
on developing life-force energy, you'll be on an equal footing with the rest.
I might, though, try to work out some techniques specially for you, so you can
have a chance to feel the flow of energy for yourself. It's a lovely feeling.
Now, why don't you go play with the others, and you can take Nage with you."
"Thanks so much, Aihami-Master!"
When the Jubjub had happily
dashed back outside with Didicus and Nage in tow, Marko turned to Aihami.
"You really think that pure
life-force training will work?"
"Of course, Marko. Especially
since he learnt to use it naturally. Neo-Kido, I'm sure I've told you, isn't
about who's stronger outside, but who's stronger inside."
To be continued...
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